Planning on camping out with the little ones this summer? National Wildlife Federation’s Be Out There Movement has all of the best camping tips to make your next overnight stay in the woods or backyard as easy as 1, 2, 3. After talking to parents, just like you, about how they prepare for their upcoming camping trips, Be Out There has compiled their answers here to answer any questions that you might have:

Q1: What materials do you need for a camping adventure? (Tent, sleeping bag, first aid, etc)

Knowing what to bring can be a bit overwhelming, especially if you’re a camping with kids.. It’s always good to prepare ahead of time, rather than wait for the day before or even the day of your trip. Growing up, my family and I would go camping a few times a year with my friend Gregg’s family that we are close with. My mom and his mom, Karen, would get together a few weeks before and plan out everything we needed, the grocery list, and what sort of meals they’d be cooking while we were away. Pretty soon, they had a standard list that was used every time we went camping. Having a list can really help, Destination Nature has their own “don’t forget” list, too. Here it is:

Everyone had such great ideas on what to bring, it was hard to narrow them down! Here are a few other responses that can help you prepare your own packing list:

And of course, my mom couldn’t keep this one a secret…

Because, yes, I LOVED playing with my Barbie’s and having a small kids tent for them to live in while we were camping gave me a little fort away from home, and kept the boys from messing with them when I wasn’t looking!

Q2: What are your favorite camping foods & recipes?

Let’s be honest, we could go on and on for days about all of the amazing camping foods and recipes we’ve all acquired over the years and through our food boards on Pinterest; which made it even harder to narrow down to just a few. Have you ever heard of “Cooking in a Sack?” I sure hadn’t until StephJem Pyles gave us the lowdown on how it works:

Check out some of these other awesome camping foods, maybe you’ll be inspired to try them out, too!

Q3: Scary & spooky stories, s’mores, and star gazing… What are some fun games and activities for camping with kids are sure to love?

I would have to say that catching fireflies is probably one of my favorite things to do when I’m outside. There’s just something enchanting about watching them light up your jar at night for a few minutes and then letting them go again. But sometimes catching fireflies isn’t enough to catch the attention of our little ones running around the campsite or the kids that like to point out that there’s “nothing to do” on repeat.

What are your favorite camping activities? Share with us in the comments below or on our Facebook Page!

Q4. We all have accidents, scrape a knee, or bump our head in the dark. So what are some good safety tips to keep in mind while camping?

I can’t count how many times my parents have had to clean up a scraped knee, pull out a tick, or pile on the anti-itch cream when I would accidentally run through the only poison ivy by our campsite. Something is bound to happen, but it helps to be prepared.

With so many great ideas for camping safety, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t have a safe and fun time whether you’re camping in your backyard, or at a local park. Buddy systems, whistles, and flashlights at night are great starts. Remember to always have your first aid kit well stocked before you go. You never know when that gauze or small band-aid will come in handy!

Camping with kids doesn’t need to be a big to-do; it should be fun and exciting for everyone in the family. If you’re not ready to take the little ones out into the woods for a camping trip, pitch a tent in the comfort of your own backyard. It’ll get them excited about the idea of camping and they’ll become more eager to go camping again in the future. There was always an adventure to be had when I was camping as a kid, sometimes their imagination is all they need when out in nature. Being prepared and having awesome snacks definitely helps to make camping with kids easy. For more information about Be Out There, www.beoutthere.org.